3 MIN READ
Before a trip, it is worth settling one simple question: "If I use a travel eSIM, what happens to my phone number?" This article explains the idea in plain language. It does not make promises about calls, texts or fees, because those depend on your own carrier.
A travel eSIM plan is a data plan
ChoEsim sells prepaid travel eSIM data plans. They are built for using the internet while you are away. Our plans are data-only, so calls and messages are meant to go through internet apps. Regular calls depend on your primary SIM and your carrier, not on the travel plan.
If a particular plan includes anything beyond data, its plan page says so. If it does not say so, do not assume it.
Your usual SIM and the eSIM
On a phone that can hold more than one line, adding an eSIM may not remove your usual SIM. The two could sit side by side: your usual line, and the eSIM with a data plan. This is general knowledge about how multi-line phones can work. It depends on the phone, so it is not a promise from us, and you should check your own phone's behaviour.
What we can say is that a ChoEsim plan is data-only, and regular calls depend on your primary SIM and your carrier. Whether your usual number can receive calls and texts while you are abroad is a question for your carrier, which is why the checks below matter.
Choosing which line is used for mobile data
When a phone has two lines, it needs to know which one to use for mobile data. Phones may let you choose this in the mobile network or SIM settings, and the exact menu names vary by device. The general idea is to select the eSIM for mobile data while you travel, and to leave your usual line for calls and texts.
Because this is general knowledge, take a moment to look at your own settings instead of relying on our description. If your eSIM is installed and nothing loads, our article on an eSIM installed with no data goes through this step again.
What to ask your carrier before you leave
Whether you can receive calls, texts or one-time codes while abroad, and what that might cost, is decided by your carrier and your plan with them. We cannot answer that for you, and we are not going to guess. A short conversation with your carrier before you fly is the right place to get it straight. Some useful questions:
- Is my phone unlocked, and does it support eSIM?
- Will I be able to receive text messages and one-time codes on my usual number while abroad?
- What are the charges for roaming, if I leave my usual line switched on?
- How do I switch my usual line to not use mobile data, so I do not use it by accident?
Write down what they say. If you rely on text codes for a bank or an account, it is worth confirming this before you leave and not after you land.
Check your plan's details
Finally, read the plan's own details. They apply when you place your order, and they are the reliable source for what a particular plan includes. If you want to understand the basics first, our how it works page is a good starting point, and the FAQ answers the question about calls and text messages.